Etiology and Management of Fruit Rot of Brinjal (Solanum Melongena L.)

Fruit rot of brinjal caused by Alternaria alternata , Colletotrichum melongenae and Phomopsis vexans is one of the important diseases of brinjal in northern Karnataka. The present studies on fruit rot of brinjal were conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, COH, Bagalkot during the year 2013-14 to 2014-15. Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a major solanaceous vegetable crop of India after tomato and potato. Fruit rot of brinjal caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Colletotrichum melongenae and Phomopsis vexans is an important disease resulting into severe problems of this crop in the near vicinity of Bagalkot district. Alternaria fruit rot infected fruits of brinjal was found to produce typical symptoms, such as small, circular, black-brown and necrotic spots and later on turned dark-brown to black-brown in colour. The pathogen was identified as Alternaria alternata . Whereas Colletotrichum melongenae infected fruits, found to show small circular spots that coalesce to form large elliptical spots on fruits and leaves. Later the pathogens were identified as Colletotrichum melogenae and Phomopsis vexans respectively.